St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-04
RELIGION IN SCHOOLS.
70 the Editor of the Globe.

To the Editor of the Globe.
The Rev. Mr.. CoNEY a bright and able
young Clergyman, whose intellectual attain
ments bid fair to win him in time a prom
inent place in his church, preached very
interesting sermon Mt st. Mary's church last
Sunday on the question of religion in schools.
Though viewing the matter from sectarian
standpoint, which, however admissible to
those of his own faith, would hardly be ac-
cepted by people of other denominations, he
yet treated the subject on suifi GENTLY gen
eral grounds to command consideration and
in some measure assent.
1t may be readily conceded that mental
and moral instruction should go hand IN
hand and that moral instruction Is imposs-
BILE without the introduction of the religious
element. But as to the exact nature Of the
necessary religious factor there will be
diversity of opinion co-extensive with the
varied religious beliefs.
The religious instruction approved or by
one would not accord with the views of an
other, and dissension would arise at the out
set. But educators are beginning to recog-
nize the fact that too many children ''grow
up wild, as Ii WERE so faras the cultivation
of their moral natures is concerned. They
observe that while their intellectual qualities
are developed, the best results in moulding
good and intelligent citizens are not attained
when the moral qualities are not at the same
time trained. And this accrues through the
fact that the great majority of the children
do not receive adequate moral or religious in
struction at home.
This defect was recognized by the late con-
vention of teachers in Chicago a reSolu-
ton to the effect that the elimination of re-
ligious training prevented the attainment of
the best results in public instruction having
passed UNANIMOUSLY. The problem is one
that may well engage the attention of edu-
Gators. 1t is an indubitable fact that the
man whose religious or moral nature, for
there can hardly be true morality without re-
ligion, keeps pace with his intellectual
growth is the better citizen, and it is the duty
or the state to afford every facility in its
power for the complete nature of the
youth who will some day control it. But it is
obviously impossible for the state to under
take any kind of sectarian instruction.
In q country whose people comprise all
shades of political belief any kind of dis
elimination is, of course, out of the question
The only solution of the problem heretofore
has been in the entire suppression of the re-
hgious element in instruction. The state
could undertake to provide mental training
for all sorts and conditions, without breeding
dissension, but it could not take the response
| bility of taxing people OF every belief and no
belief for the purpose of intoxicating the
dogma of any particular denomination. That
! all should contribute to the support of a gen.
eral unsectarian school system goes without
saying, but that any one should aid in the
| universal incubation of a religious belief d.
| rectly opposed to his own is unreasonable
But since it is agreed that only by cultivat-
| ing the mental and moral qualities together
| can be produced harmonious and complete
development, it might be well to inquire
| whether there is not a solution of the prob
| lem to which all can agree? Whether, for in
| stance the state could not impress upon the
| youthful minds those grand religious and
ethical truths of Christianity upon which all
| denominations and all sects agree? Whether
| it could not do this to degree sufficient to
| overcome the present difficulty and yet in
way be sufficiently broad and liberal to war
| rant no objection upon the part of taxpayers
| of varied religious beliefs?
Then if, in the mind of denominational
| leaders. it was deemed wise to supplement
this moral instruction by the incubation of
| their particular doctrines, the work of the
present Sunday schools might be amplified
| and for the hours of public instruction be
arranged with reference to permitting pupils
to attend UNCONVENTIONAL instruction exclII-
| sively for the necessary time daily More
than that the state, however, in the nature of
things could not do. 1t is q debateable mat
ter, indeed, whether a course of moral in
struction could be decided upon which would
| be general enough to avoid opposition, and
| yet specific enough TO amount to anything
| But the matter certainly deserv the con-
| sideration of all thoughtful men who cannot
| fail to see in the growing indiffe enee to the
| precepts of morality dang er that must some
| day seriously menace American institutions.